Summer Quandaries 21 - Olynyk a Stretch 5, Not a 4

http://celticsgreen.blogspot.com/2015/08/sq21-olynyk-stretch-5-not-4.html



SQ21 Olynyk a Stretch 5, Not a 4

By Lee Lauderdale







Two years ago I opined that Kelly Olynyk's more natural position was center rather than power forward. I have seen nothing to reverse my decision in this matter. My feelings were that given Olynyk's limitations (primarily a lack of strength and limited mobility, especially side to side), he could address the strength factor (both upper and lower body) with the proper training regimen, but his mobility was a deficit almost impossible to change in any major way. The past two years of observation suggest to me that my analysis was spot on.

Over that time it has also become apparent that Kelly isn't, and likely never will be, much of a leaper. For his serviceability at center this limitation means that he will never be a deterrent soaring above the rim. What he has demonstrated is that his BBIQ serves him, and his team, well in that it allows Olynyk to establish position such that opponent's drives to the rim are diverted (or will draw charges). In this respect he does protect the paint (interestingly this is very similar to the way Kendrick Perkins manned the middle).

This paucity of lift, along with his short arms, has also translated to relatively poor rebounding. Many non-leapers have proven to be fine rebounders by establishing position and assiduously applying the art of blocking out their opponent. Kelly's intelligence and anticipation has served him well in positioning, both on his man and on other opponents crashing into the lane to vie for caroms. Thus far his efforts have been sabotaged his lack of strength and by his failure to reposition after his opponent reacts to Kelly's original effort. Olynyk is too smart not to adjust and reestablish (and re-reestabish, and re-re-reestablish) that inside position by shifting into each of the opponent's new path attempts, and he has already made some headway on building the base and upper body strength to hold his own. As we watch Kelly improve, think of Cedric Maxwell and Wes Unseld, who were both low-leapers who parlayed superior positioning, crafty anticipation, and relentless effort into superior rebounding ability.

On offense, Olynyk's strength lies very much within the realm of a stretch four. However those same capabilities (outside shooting, driving on the close-out defender, dishing to teammates when defenders collapse to shut off those drives) that a more nimble power forward defender might better contain, are even more devastating against (typically) less mobile centers. I've presented some issues and potential solutions to Olynyk's providing productive play in the middle. Are there sets of issues/solutions to his play at power forward?

I don't know of any regimen that has proven to be markedly successful in increasing a player's mobility and agility. Sure, toning his body should, in theory, provide somewhat better body control. Obviously working on a solid base, starting with a low center of gravity and a center of mass well balanced over properly positioned feet, would provide a good “start position.” Then appropriate foot movement (the oft mentioned slide), keeping the center of mass between the spread-foot base, and avoiding the crossing of feet which is the beginning of losing defensive position. These are basic defensive principles, but they don't make the feet move faster.

What might help? Many of the drills in dancing and martial arts would seem to provide some, perhaps a great deal of, benefit to basketball players, especially those not fleet of foot or agile on their feet. In fact I am surprised we don't hear of players employing trainers borrowing liberally from these disciplines. Actually, perhaps there are; we just don't hear high-dollar “pro” trainers crediting these other arts (especially dance with its accompanying biases, but wouldn't twinkle toes really, really help?). Still, in the world of the tortoise and the hare, a well trained turtle is likely just lifted into a faster slow, while the rabbit is running circles around his shelled opponent, often running backwards.

With the more and more prevalent stretch 4's, Olynyk's bulk and slow feet put him at a distinct disadvantage against his more nimble opponents. Quite the reverse is true against the majority of centers in the league. Against them, Kelly is a triple-threat player who can pull them away from the basket where not only are they at a disadvantage in covering Olynyk, but they are now unable to fulfill their primary purpose of clogging the middle and protecting the rim.

Already, at the offensive end, Olynyk leverages some significant advantages against opposing centers. If he can progress to at least hold his own defending the behemoths at the other end, then overall the edge goes to the Celtics.

Only 45 more days until camp.



bob
MY NOTE:  Lee's killing me here!  Even as I am manfully trying to swallow the undeniable trend towards stretch 4s he is telling me I must stretch (no pun intended) my sensibilities even further to include stretch 5s!  Shades of Spencer Hawes!  Ugh.  

Oh well, let's deal with it then.  Lee does have a good point that he is slow for 4s but can keep up with 5s and Kelly's offense, when he is aggressive, outweighs most centers' offense (notable exceptions would be Cousins and occasionally Howard).  It is all about the team and if he can produce a net positive then winning ugly, as I define beauty, is still winning.  

How, though, to prevent or mitigate the impact of other teams switching their 4 onto him on defense and letting their 5 stay down low with Sully/Lee/Amir?  Take away Kelly's speed advantage by putting the quicker 4 on him and then...?  Now, if Kelly had a low post game, that would help.  Then, if they wanted to put a 4 on him and have Sully/Lee/Amir drag the 5 away?  Suppose they switch back and put the 5 on Kelly when he's down low?  Either way, it would help for Kelly to develop a low post move or two.  It would help him overpower the shorter 4s down low and force the switch.  Once the switch is made he could always back away, call for the ball (hear that, Kelly!?  You have to CALL for the ball!) and then take the slower 5 off the dribble or just shoot from mid-range and out.



.

Olynyk does have a post game, we just don't see it much. He can score in the post with either hand, too. Olynyk was just about the best post scorer in all of college ball his last year in college.

By playing alongside an athletic PF like say, Mickey, teams can switch PFs on to KO all they want, but then they have a center trying to keep up with a PF.

The best aspects of the Celtics' playoff run was the defense of the starting guards, and the play of the bench, particularly IT4, Crowder, and KO. That trio was awesome together.

I wouldn't mind that whole bench trio starting together, along with Smart and Amir Johnson. Or at least Crowder and KO, because KO can bring a lot of the playmaking that Turner does.

KO looks stronger than ever this summer, and Amir might be the ideal, versatile frontcourt mate for him.



Here's Amir's highlights from the game the other night

KO is one of, as far as I can tell, only four Cs who typically have passing/playmaking mentioned as one of their strengths. The other three being Turner, Lee and Hunter. Otherwise our guard/ballhandlers are mediocre playmakers at best for their position. I know lots of people were happy to see RR leave but I have to say during the playoff round with the Cavs last spring I really longed for someone on the court that would make the right pass, at the right time, to the right guy. I know it's all space and pace but that still means people making good passes. There's lots of talk about trading KO and Turner, and Hunter is a rookie SG. But while almost all of the guys on the roster have good BBIQs, that doesn't make them good playmakers. Out of fifteen we could end up with one guy, Lee, in the rotation that is a good passer and he's a 4/5. Whether KO is a PF or center may not matter so much (we're getting away from these fixed positions anyway, remember) as just the fact that he can make a play when you have a Smart (learning to be average), Bradley (oh god no), Rozier (WIP), or IT (penetrate and dish at best, too small to see over the defense) guard combo. With no true stud scoring, excellent playmaking would seem to be vital. If Turner is traded and Hunter rides the bench, other than IT, we could be reduced to looking to much of the offense to initiate from the 4/5.

Most discussions about Kelly Olynyk feature conjecture on how to compensate for his shortcomings (pun intended). Can playing beside the right player mitigate the brevity of his arms, his heavy-legged deterrent to jumping, or his lack of lateral mobility? Are his basketball IQ and his ability to help spread the floor sufficient to offset the impact of his defensive deficiencies? Can a chip be imbedded in Kelly that will enable him to think and act like a four on offense and a five on defense?

Frankly, I'm not a big fan of the theory that a strong positive can cancel out a strong negative in an NBA player. The NBA is not just one big accounting ledger. A ability of one type may make Kelly’s warts more tolerable, but it doesn’t erase them.

Kelly’s most prominent challenges basically require a 180º reinvention of himself, while the challenges faced by most of his teammates require improvement in areas where they have already demonstrated some promise.

Perhaps I’m over-estimating the seriousness of Kelly’s scarcities. Maybe all that’s required is to teach him the cha cha or enroll him in a tai chi course. But, because he’s operating at such extreme deficits two years into his career, I have great difficulty envisioning him ever becoming a dynamic catalyst on a contending team. And isn’t that what the Celtics should be looking for at this point in their development?

Sorry, Kelly. I admire your effort the ways in which you’ve already improved your game. I just think the remaining hill is too steep.

Sam

Hey Sam you said all that PERFECT!!!

Cow,

I really like the guy, and I'm a big fan of players with high basketball IQ. Moreover, I envy the fact that he has more hair on one eyeball than I have on my entire head. Maybe he'll prove me wrong. For his sake I hope so. But, IF that happens, I'm afraid it would be a long trip through mediocrity, and that's not what the Celtics need at this stage of their evolution.

Sam

5's
4's
Centers
Power forwards

we see more and more those labels are not relevant in todays NBA (for the most part).

I have been SLOW to embrace the changes that have been made (primarily due to the lack of big men with low post skills, it seems) but he league in this regard.

but I have been trying to see NBA big men as one position now, with two on the floor at a time.

I (perhaps wrongly) still see big men as high-post or low-post types, primarily on offense.

with that said Kelly is a good high post "big man". he has the outside shot, the ability to drive and score AND the passing ability's needed to excel in that role on offense. Jerkebo is another player who's skills match a high-post big man.

he will need to be paired with a low-post "big man" for best results., IMO. on the current roster we seem to have a few of those, Sully, Lee and Zeller ( Mickey could be added here if you think he can get minutes with the logjam in front of him).

Amir Johnson is a wild card for me as I don't know what his offensive game is. he has improved his outside shot but is he a high-post player?

of course defense is where most complaints about Kelly come in (or Sully for that matter).

as others have pointed out Kelly or Sully may be better served with a quicker big next to them on the defensive end. Amir seems to fit that bill to me and Mickey has some skill set there, but it is a leap to expect him to be a big minute man on this current roster, IMO.

Zeller?....he seems quicker than Kelly or Sully, but can he regularly match up well against smaller quicker bigs?

Lee has never been known as anything more than an average defender at best and at 32YO I doubt he will suddenly become a stopper on that end.

so as I finish my rambling thoughts here I guess I see Kelly as a classic high post big man on offense, who will need a quality big next to him that can help hide his defensive problems.

sort of what Dallas did with Dirk (no I am not saying Kelly will EVER be as good as Dirk) when they brought in Chandler in his prime.

Some of Kelly's problems are like the chicken-and-egg dilemma.  They can be traced to his lack of aggressiveness, which is caused in part by the game not slowing down for him yet.  He wants to be a good teammate and not hog the ball but he has shots he can make and should take, but hesitates to take them.  He's not seeing the floor fast enough, not reacting fast enough and, by the time he does, the defense closes and the moment is past.

Some players take to it right away (Larry and Magic come to mind) but most players need a few years.  Paul Pierce didn't really start to click until his 3rd year and, even then, he was going on pure adrenaline and talent and not because the game slowed down for him.  Then, it did and people started using words like "crafty" and "veteran".  He was already a veteran, and doing well, he just didn't play like it.  He thought everything had to be fast.

In the last half of Kelly's rookie year, when the games didn't matter because we were only going to win 25, he turned it on and finished strong.  He lost the deer-in-the-headlights look he had for the first few months.  Last year he improved in most areas of the game:  His points/minute were up, his assists/steals/blocks per minute were up as was his fg%.  He slipped a bit on rebounding and free throws but I'm not worried about his free throw shooting and the presence of Zeller took some of the rebounding strain off him.  In short, last year was an improvement.  This year we need to see more.  If he reacts just a little faster, because he's seeing things faster/sooner his rotations will be more effective, his scoring will go up because he's taking those shots he's passing up now and everything will work better.


bob


.

There is no question in my mind that Olynyk has very much improved since the beginning of his rookie season. His ankle injury last season came at a terrible time for him, but he still managed to get better even after that injury.

He was quicker, faster and stronger last season and will likely be better at every part of his game again this year. He is not only a basketball smart kid on the court but also a smart young man off the court. Like all young players still playing on their rookie contracts, I will bet the ranch that he has a plan in place to make him a better player so that he can get an improved contract after his fourth year.

Young, tall, skinny kids do not always improve as fast as we would like, but I fully expect this guy to get better every year for about 4 to 5 more years. In many ways, I hope that he is with the Cs for all of these years.

When I look at Kelly, I still see Brad Lohaus out there. Lanky, not particularly strong, heavy-legged. non-leaper. Their second-year stats per minute were quite similar, except that Kelly shot the three-ball much better.

I keep hearing how Kelly improved in his second year; and, frankly, that was my general impression—but mostly on offense, which was already his forte. However, it turns out that any improvements in his offensive stats were minor:

• He improved slightly from 46.6% to 47.5 in terms of field goal percentage. (His three point shooting percentage was 35% in both seasons.)

• His scoring per 36 minutes was up slightly (15.6 to 16.6) mainly because his three point attempts increased from 2.9 to 4.4. And, by the way, for those who felt they detected great improvement as last season wore on, his overall shooting percentage plummeted from 51% before the all-star break to 42% after the all-star break.

By at least one measure, his aggressiveness actually dipped in year two:

• In year one, 78% of his shots were two-point attempts. In year two, that figure dipped to 66%. And, yes, I understand that he probably shot more threes on Brad's orders; and I'm not trying to play the blame game. But the fact is that, in year two, whatever the reason, Brad's role on the team in year two featured a tradeoff of some two point aggressiveness in favor of more treys (at which he was no more efficient in year two than in year one) although perhaps his presence on the perimeter helped open up scoring opportunities for teammates.

Based on the few stats that can offer some insight into a player’s defense, Kelly actually did improve in year two. But the improvements were slight:

• Kelly's steals per 36 improved from 0.9 to 1.6.

• His blocks per 36 improved from 0.7 to 1.0.

• His fouls per 36 decreased almost imperceptibly from 5.8 to 5.4.

But, at these rates of improvement, Kelly’s career would resemble a farmer trying to raise the water level in his well by dropping in another pebble every few months.

I have no idea what happened to his free throw shooting:

• His free throw shooting dropped precipitously from 81% to 68%.

• He continued to take only three freebies per 36 minutes. Another commentary on the state of his aggressiveness.

I would have guessed that his minutes per game had escalated considerably in year two, but the increase was modest:

• 20.0 to 22.2

I realize that stats are not the only measure of a player’s value (although I'm not sure that's now the prevailing theory in the league). A player with either high basketball IQ (e.g. Kelly) or remarkable energy output (e.g. Jae Crowder) is often the kind of player whose intangibles mean more than those of other players. Last season, Kelly certainly made a number of plays that reflected that high IQ. Some clever forays to the hoop. Some timely switches on defense. Some good anticipation, whether it led to an interception in a passing lane or a breakaway for a fast break dunk.

But I just can’t around two facts:

1. In areas where he’s making improvement, Kelly’s rate of progress is slower than that of the team as a whole (over the past half season).

2. In Kelly, I see at least three areas (arm length, lack of jumping ability, poor lateral mobility) that I believe will represent a constraint on his ability ever to improve significantly from current levels.

It’s all about the team; and, while I can envision Kelly’s best attributes ultimately becoming a more integral part of this developing team, the timetable is too slow and the offsetting negatives too daunting to bode well for a long-term Celtics career.

Sam

There is nothing natural about a stretch 5.

Lee"s logic is also flawed.

he assumes that Kelly at the stretch 5 would be an advantage going against another 5.

Guess what lee. the other team may not be defending Kelly with a center.

dboss

There's a reason KO led the team in +/-, and almost every lineup he was a part of played winning basketball.

KO has had haters who never forgave him for being drafted by the Celtics. Too white, too dorky, and he doesn't play center exactly how they prefer a center to play. His great 3 point shooting and passing, and ball handling for a center, does nothing to soften the resentment from a lot of his Day One Haters.

We saw the same thing with Avery Bradley and his Day One Haters, and it wasn't until year three that they started to soften up on him.

Hopefully KO gets the same belated forgiveness that Bradley did. Just as the Early Bradley Doubters forget ever not liking the guy, perhaps the Early KO doubters will forget their early, and stubborn, resentment.

Is there any other player on the Celtics where fans scream at him to SHOOT IT!!! every time he touches the ball, whether he's open or not? KO's haters don't care if he's not open. They want him to SHOOT IT!!! And if he gets blocked, it just proves their theory that KO SUCKS!!!

Which makes you wonder, if KO sucks so much, why do people scream at him to SHOOT IT!!!! every time he touches the ball?

It's almost like they want him to fail, so they can pat themselves on the back for being right about him sucking.

KO sprinting up and down the court means nothing, as does his great passing, low turnovers, dribble drives from the center position, and most of all, his floor stretching ability. Even his high rate of steals means nothing, and KO's haters would rather have Perkins any day of the week.

Because while Perk couldn't catch the ball, couldn't/can't stretch the floor, dribble the ball, dish nice assists and hockey assists, beat centers up and down the court, lead the team in +/-, make seemingly all of his teammates better, or rack up lots of steals, at least Perk looks the part of a center. Big, black, and mean.

The KO haters will even tell you that Perk was a great rebounder, or at least a lot better than KO. Maybe not statistically, but at least he wasn't guilty of RWW. Rebounding while white.

The basketball world so rarely sees real basketball players at the center position that it declares that it's unnatural, to quote somebody upthread.

As somebody else said, there's only 2-3 centers in the league as skilled or more skilled than KO offensively.

Not bad for a 23-24 year old.

And yet there's not much to be excited about, for some reason.

Not every player who makes their teammates better puts up stats like Larry Bird. Not every center who consistently wins while on the court blocks shots like Dikembe Mutombo, or Mutombo's twin brother Kendrick Perkins, who once blocked 89 shots in a game while catching a fish Thiiiiiis Biiiig, and killing a bear with his bare hands.

Before KO's ankle sprain, he actually showed clear and significant improvement as a leaper.

Unfortunately, I suppose, KO is looking stronger than ever this summer, and while it might not reduce his leaping ability, the extra weight is unlikely to allow much more in the way of jumping improvement.

Here's what Evan Turner said about KO when the subject of the team's best dunker came up last year:

"We don't really have any high flyers," Turner said. "Probably Phil Pressey. Some days Kelly Olynyk. Kelly gets bouncy to tell you the truth."
http://www.csnne.com/blog/celtics-talk/turner-picks-pressey-celtics-best-dunker

Here's another nice dunk before the ankle sprain. Clear athletic improvement from his rookie year



Here's Bass talking about KO's athleticism after that game:

One interesting note about KO leading the team in +/-, and almost every lineup combination being a winner with KO on the court:

KO never really played with an above average defender in the frontcourt all season, except for Jerebko at the end.

Most non-superstars need complimentary lineups to thrive, like Rondo and Perk needed. That almost every KO included lineup was positive in the +/- all season, through all the roster turnover, and without much/any defensive help in the frontcourt is impressive.

We'll see how well KO's lineups do this year with guys like Amir Johnson and Jordan Mickey alongside him.

I'm guessing KO will once again lead the team, or be in the top 3 as far as +/- again this year, regardless of the stats he puts up. And at some point it will be accepted to be more than just a coincidence.

Regardless of the stats he puts up.

I think we should be careful when we use terms like great.

Referring to KO as a great passer may undermine other players that were actually great passers (like Larry Bird for example)

By the way KO is not a great passer.  He only averaged 1.7 assist per game and 1.1 TO's.  That may be the opposite of great.  For a guy that is scared to shoot the ball you would think he would be getting more assists.  Oh well!

I like KO and I expect him to play better but we need a break out season from him, else moving up to 13 to get him looks like a stupid decision.  Come on Kelly, DA needs you to play much better this year.  

dboss

With the addition of Johnson to the front court the Celts have shored up a position in dire need of some inside scoring punch. Both Sullinger and Olynyk have failed to add any significant offense in the 0' to 10' range as the team rankings indicate.  In terms of percentage of fga the Celts ranked 21st in the 0'-3' range and 23rd in the 3'-10' range.

Olynyk-  0-3 feet---  35.6 % of his fga were at this distance
Olynyk-  3-10 feet--- 13.1 %  "   "    "    "   "      "     "

Sully    - 0-3  feet--- 26.8 %
Sully    - 3-10 feet---22.2 %

Johnson - 0-3 feet--- 48.9 %
Johnson - 3-10 feet---35.1 %

With Sully only taking 49% of his shots from within 10' and Olynyk taking only 48.7% from within 10" there should be some marked improved when  Johnson is on the floor with his up close shooting of 84 % of his shots from within 10'.  That's even better than Zellers 80.6 %.

swish

Olynyk's passing isn't limited to his assist totals in the box scores. He gets tons of hockey assists and the offense is most efficient and productive with him in it.

Outless passes, passes after dribbling the ball up the court, making the right reads in the half-court, swinging the ball.

And his defense is downright mediocre, which is high praise. He gets conspiciously backed down 4-6 times a game, and outmuscled for a couple rebounds, but it is simply outweighed by his other tangible and intangible contributions.

If KO has the mentality to be more than the super-sub he already is, We could be looking at a starting center on a championship, in the mold of the small ball style that is suddenly all the rage.

KO also seems to be a clutch shooter, though I'd have to re-check the stats on that. Even off the bench, KO can be a classic X factor that changes seasons and playoff series.

Here's the +/- stats of our team. KO, at the very least, just-so-happened to be on the court when the Celtics played winning ball, at a rate significantly higher than any other rotation regular.

http://www.sportingcharts.com/nba/stats/individual-player-plus-minus-statistics/2014/

Rambone

I'm just saying. He is not a great passer.

Dboss

He's a great passer for a center these days. Not an all time great passer.

I'll go even further in my support of KO. IF he can learn to play more like the quick trigger KO we saw in the second half of his rookie season, and that's a big/huge IF at this point, KO can be a Celtic Great.

The acquisition of IT4 and Rozier mark a turning point in KO's career. KO is great with attacking close-outs off the dribble. The problem was not having quick point guards who were dangerous enough to draw KO's man away.

KO pump-fakes too much, but some of it is not catching the ball when he's open, because he didn't have excellent drive and dish point guards to get him those better looks, the kind where KO actually has enough time to get an open shot off, or at least pump fake with a little threat of being open.

KO has played with Jordan Crawford, Recovering Rondo, Rookie Smart, and Evan Turner.

Now he has IT4 and Rozier, two waterbugs who must be respected at all times by team defenses.

The more good looks KO gets, the more shots he'll put up, and the more opportunities he'll have to devastate with his dribble drive. He already uses advanced head-fakes, and is good at parting the red sea with his head-fakes which get him layups/dunks.

Some great players just need certain types of players around them to succeed. KO is already a +/- star, but I say that a good defensive PF and/or water-bug point guard might just lead to even more improvement, for Kelly but most importantly for the team.

If the Celtics started

IT4
Smart
Crowder
Amir/Mickey
KO

KO might just be a legit starting center on a legit playoff team.

rambone I don't know where your trying to go with all this?

Can KO anchor a defense and to a contending level? If he can't do that, hes got no business being used as a center....unless your fond of soft play in the paint.

Hes a 7 footer that cannot defend the 4 or 5, he really has no position on defense where I've seen him NOT get exposed. I don't see one offensive skill that is so good that he has, that he can build on that will offset his defensive liabilities. I see him getting less playing time this year.

Cowens, what is the evidence that KO's offensive skills don't already make up for his defensive shortcoming?

Other than your eyeball test?

Your talking about a guy who just so happened to have far and away the highest +/- of any regular rotation Celtic.

His +/- was so good that nobody would expect it from any player on a 40 win team. The Celtics play as well with KO on the court as the Cavs do with Kevin Love, and just about the same as the Hawks do with Milsap on the court.

This idea that he's some kind of net negative is patently false, and provably so, regardless of how often and how passionately it is repeated.

And asking if KO can anchor a defense on a contender isn't the right question. The question is whether he can be the starting center, or super-sub anyway, on a contender. And there's plenty of room for optimism. Like my previously made point that he hasn't even played alongside a good frontcourt defender yet, and how he finally has jitterbug point guards who can create lots of open looks for him.

Similar to how asking if KO can "anchor a defense" is the wrong question, asking if Steph Curry can be a pure floor general on a contender is the wrong question.

You can keep asking the wrong question, but the right question is about contending and winning, not secondary goals like playing in a preferred style of play.

Golden State had a great defensive anchor in Bogut, and he was on the bench most of the time when Golden State was pulling away in the finals, as was the Cavs defensive anchor Mosgov.

Sam,

Olynyk may never be a great individual defender, but I think that he did improve from last year from his rookie year at least on the "eye" test. Playing along side a better defender on the front line (Johnson or Mickey come to mind quickly) will only help him be an even better team defender.  He will also likely improve again this year, and he will also be much better served by playing on the second unit as much as possible.

He is not a super star player now and likely will never be, but I like to think back to what Ainge said about this kid on the night that he drafted him when he called him "contributing player on a good team" or at least something very similar.  I think that Olynyk is definitely on pace to be just about what Ainge deemed him a little over two years ago.

Sam,

Olynyk may never be a great individual defender, but I think that he did improve from last year at least on the "eye" test. Playing along side a better defender on the front line (Johnson or Mickey come to mind quickly) will only help him be an even better team defender. He will also likely improve again this year, and he will also be much better served by playing on the second unit as much as possible.

He is not a super star player now and likely will never be, but I like to think back to what Ainge said about this kid on the night that he drafted him when he called him "contributing player on a good team" or at least something very similar. I think that Olynyk is definitely on pace to be just about what Ainge deemed him a little over two years ago.